Knife-handle



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LUCIUS CARRIER, OF EAST DOUGLAS, MASSACHUSETTS.

KNIFE-HANDLE.

Speccaton of Letters Patent No. 27,349, dated 'March 6, 1860.

To all 'whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, LUoIUs CARRIER, of East Douglas, in the county ofW'orcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in the Conw struction of Knife-Handles; and I do herebydeclare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description ofthe same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part ofthis specification, in which- Figure l, is a side View of a handleconstructed according to my invention, Fig. 2, a transverse section ofthe same; F ig. 3, a back view of the same.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the severalgures.

rThis invention although applicable to handles for all kinds of cutleryis more especially designed for large knives, such as the Spanish knifeor machete and the like.

The invention consists in having the body of the handle formed of piecesof horn, leather or wood and covering the same with a single piece ofhorn secured in proper position by rivets or bolts vsubstantially ashereinafter described.

To enable those skilled in the art to fully understand and construct myinvention I will proceed to describe it.

A, represents a portion of the blade of a knife and a a I) Z9 representstrips of horn which are placed, two at each side of the tang c of theblade A, as shown clearly in Fig. 2. The strips of horn a a b extend thewhole length of the handle, and they are covered by a piece of horn cl,which is bent around said pieces and is secured thereto by bolts c anecessary number of which pass through the tang c and not only securethe cover el to the body or filling of the handle, but, also secure thehandle to the tang.

The cover CZ extends around the back of the body or lling, and it endsnearly or quite meet in front. The handle therefore has a smoothexterior, is very firm and durable and may be manufactured economically.

The body or filling may be of pieces of horn as described, or raw hide,or leather may be used, and also wood. Various materials might beemployed for this purpose as the cover el, is what gives the characterto the handle and constitutes its essential feature.

The horn that forms the cover, is cut out in proper shape and in orderto enable it to be bent properly it is boiled, and, heated in vthe usualor in anyv proper way so as to render it soft and pliant. The body orlling may be of any size according to the size of the handle required.

Knife handles have been made of strips of horn, placed one over theother at each side of the tang, and secured longitudinally thereto bybolts, but, so far as l am aware a cover of horn has never been employedto extend nearly or quite around the handle, to form a smooth handleequal to one formed of a solid substance throughout. The handlesconstructed entirely of horn strips are liable to become rough inconsequence of the edges of the strips turning or curling, under theinfluence of the heat of the hand, an effect peculiar to horn. By myinvention this diiliculty is obviated and a perfectly smooth and durablehandle obtained equal to one formed of a solid substance throughout.

I do not claim a knife handle formed of strips of horn, connectedtogether and to the tang of the knife by bolts, for such handles havebeen previously constructed, but:

I do claim as new and desire to secure by Letters latent, as an improvedarticle of manufacture- A knife handle formed of a body or filling ofhorn, wood, or other suitable material covered by a single piece of hornsubstantially as described.

LUCIUS CARRIER.

Witnesses JAMES F. BROWN, J. H. CARRmR.

